Explore the many appetizing attributes of the most versatile of citrus fruits--the lemon.

Explore the many appetizing attributes of the most versatile of citrus fruits--the lemon.

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Lemon Delight

Lemon Delight

It's time to fall in love (again) with the lemon. Sure, you may have one or more on hand, but it's probably been awhile since you reviewed its sassy attributes. As suitable for sweet foods as it is for savory, and as powerful in small squirts as it is by the cupful, this citrus is certainly worth celebrating. Consider, too, its peel. The smallest amount, zested, offers a complex floral note--which you can also enjoy candied if you prefer the peel in a sweeter form. Even the seeds, boiled in cheesecloth, can add essential flavor for marmalades.

If ever an ingredient was worthy of praise, it's the lemon. Fill your kitchen with the best you can find. In your quest for great zest, seek lemons that are plump and heavy for their size. Bright yellow fruits with glossy, fine-grained skin are the juiciest.

Ann Stratton

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Roast Lemon Chicken

Roast Lemon Chicken

And, of course, the juice is as welcome in summer (think: lemonade) as it is in winter, and is as palatable as the dominant flavor in a main dish, such as a roast chicken, as it is as an accent in baking.

A lemon inserted into the chicken's cavity during roasting keeps the meat moist and juicy. Seasoning the skin with zest imparts flavor, and salt makes it crispy. During roasting, the chicken is surrounded with lemons, which carmelize into a relish-like condiment. Serve the chicken and lemons with grilled potatoes and roasted asparagus.

Lemon Delight

It's time to fall in love (again) with the lemon. Sure, you may have one or more on hand, but it's probably been awhile since you reviewed its sassy attributes. As suitable for sweet foods as it is for savory, and as powerful in small squirts as it is by the cupful, this citrus is certainly worth celebrating. Consider, too, its peel. The smallest amount, zested, offers a complex floral note--which you can also enjoy candied if you prefer the peel in a sweeter form. Even the seeds, boiled in cheesecloth, can add essential flavor for marmalades.

If ever an ingredient was worthy of praise, it's the lemon. Fill your kitchen with the best you can find. In your quest for great zest, seek lemons that are plump and heavy for their size. Bright yellow fruits with glossy, fine-grained skin are the juiciest.

Ann Stratton

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Roast Lemon Chicken

And, of course, the juice is as welcome in summer (think: lemonade) as it is in winter, and is as palatable as the dominant flavor in a main dish, such as a roast chicken, as it is as an accent in baking.

A lemon inserted into the chicken's cavity during roasting keeps the meat moist and juicy. Seasoning the skin with zest imparts flavor, and salt makes it crispy. During roasting, the chicken is surrounded with lemons, which carmelize into a relish-like condiment. Serve the chicken and lemons with grilled potatoes and roasted asparagus.

Trout with Fresh Lemon and Capers

Now, while spring still hangs in the balance, is a wonderful time to take advantage of the bright notes of the lemon. Its sunny fragrance and piquant flavor are sure to alert the senses and awaken your palate. Squeeze lemon over fresh greens, stir segments into a caper-and-butter sauce for sautéed trout, or create a classic, such as lemon meringue pie.

Moroccan Potato and Sausage Hash

Then try something new: Add lemons with Moroccan spices to potatoes and sausage. Prepared this way, the lemons emerge slightly sweet and fruity. So, get reacquainted with the lemon. Breathe in the floral aroma of its zest, rich in essential oils, and thrill at its juice, which veritably bursts forth with abandon. After all, whether you add a little or a lot, lemon changes everything.

Lemon Garnishes

Garnish with lemon and you get two things in one: a delightful embellishment and a flavor enhancer. Wedges, stars, and slices can be squeezed, should a guest prefer a little more zing for anything from side dishes to soft drinks. And a playful ribbon of zest threaded onto a skewer will impart a hint of flavor to a drink.

TO CREATE the lemon star, make sawtooth cuts into the lemon's center, around its equator. When finished, twist and gently pull the fruit apart. To create coils, pull a channel knife around the circumference of a lemon, from top to bottom. Wedges dipped in chopped herbs, channeled slices studded with cloves, and curly strips of peel are other easy-to-make garnishes that add flavor.

Ann Stratton

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Fresh Lemon

Lemon aid: Rescue foods that taste a little dull with a zippy squirt of lemon. Perk up a soup or sauce with a little bit of juice. Combined with hot water and honey, a lemon will even soothe a sore throat or a cold. Looking for a healthy alternative to salt? Look no further than the versatile lemon.

Ann Stratton

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Lemonade with Honey and Cinnamon

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, indeed. But consider serving it hot as well as cold. Prepared with honey and spices, it tastes delicious--but because it's so rich in vitamin C, it can also serve as a home remedy for a cold. You can enjoy a constant supply of fresh juice. Simply squeeze 6 lemons to yield 1 cup. Freeze in ice trays and thaw as needed. Or cut a lemon into wedges for a welcome companion to cola, herbal tea, or beer.

TO PREPARE the soothing hot lemon beverage shown here, bring 2 cups of water, a scant 1/2 cup of sugar, and 4 cloves to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in 3/4 cup of strained lemon juice, remove from the heat, and serve in mugs. (Remove the cloves first.) You can substitute different spices, such as a stick or two of cinnamon, whole allspice (3), or star anise (1).

Lemon Sorbet

This fragrant sorbet can be served as an intermezzo to cleanse the palate and stimulate the appetite, or be presented, instead, with not-too-sweet cookies for a light dessert. Add fresh herbs to the sorbet to give this treat an unexpected twist.

Lemon Meringue Pie

Whoopie Pies

Fresh citrus infuses whoopie pies with tangy flavor. For special occasions top with confectioners' sugar and a compote of frozen berries mixed with sugar to taste and a splash of ginger liqueur. Or, to save time, skip the step for making the cream and instead sandwich softened ice cream between the cakes.